PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – A computer pop-up warning of a virus might seem like a standard tech annoyance, but deputies say a new variation of the scheme is costing residents hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office issued a fraud alert this week after one victim lost over $172,000 to scammers who used fear, fake tech support, and in-person couriers to steal cash.
According to investigators, the fraud begins when a user encounters a pop-up message on their computer claiming a virus has infected the system. The message urges the user to call a specific phone number for assistance. Once the victim connects with the voice on the other end, the trap is set…